Effects of education and poverty on the prevalence of girl child marriage in India: A district–level analysis.

Abstract Girl child marriage remains widespread in India despite implementation of several policies and programmes to eliminate the practice. This study examines the effects of girls' educational attainment and household poverty on the prevalence of female child marriage at the district–level in India. Data are drawn from the 2015–16 National Family Health Survey. Multiple linear regression models were employed to assess the factors of girl child marriage. The results indicate that girls with no schooling and primary level of education are having higher probability of getting married at an early age. However, likelihood of girl child marriage starts declining with secondary level of education. Moreover, higher secondary and higher level of education significantly reduces the prevalence of girl child marriage. Similarly, moving from poorest households to richest households significantly decreases the probability of child marriage. The results suggest that increasing opportunities for girls' education and financial supports to the poor families could be effective strategies towards eliminating the practice of girl child marriage in India. Highlights • Girls' secondary and higher level of educational attainment and betterment in household economic condition significantly reduces the risk of girl child marriage. • Urbanization, religion, women autonomy, and region also have significant influence on the prevalence of girl child marriage. • Increasing opportunities for girls' education and providing financial incentives to the poor families could be an effective strategy to eliminate the practice of girl child marriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]